Danielle DeSimone Add you viewing Insider (MTI)

"And now…let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." – Albus Dumbledore, J.K. Rowling

Danielle graduated from the University of Mary Washington with degrees in English, creative writing, and Italian. She lived in southern Italy for five years and has so far traveled to fifteen countries, in addition to studying abroad in Bath, England and Bologna, Italy. Next up in her travel plans: Iceland! Danielle is currently the social media manager and assistant editor at the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), where she gets to combine her loves of writing, Instagram, and pasta.

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Articles By Danielle DeSimone

So you’ve decided to go on a high school study abroad program...but you’re not really sure how to get ready for it. After all, the hardest part was just deciding to go, and then picking your program, right?Lucky for you, we have some expert tips on jus...

When most people first think of volunteering abroad, they’re mostly picturing images of young children, and helping mold the minds and lives of younger generations. But what the older generations? Why not become volunteers for elderly care? Why v...

Italy is one of the top countries for study abroad students and there’s it’s no wonder as to why—rich history, beautiful vistas, an award-winning food culture, and friendly locals? Studying abroad in Italy is the dream! Because Italy is so popular, the...

Keen on a trip down under? Studying at universities in Australia—whether seeking a full degree or on a short term study abroad program—is an amazing choice for international students hoping to have not just a rewarding academic experience, but to also ...

You know what’s better than study abroad? Attending universities abroad all four years instead! Trust us when we say: if you think studying abroad for a summer or semester would change your life, imagine how incredible it would be to spend your entire ...

As you enter into your final year of high school, all you’ll hear and talk is: where are you going to university? After dedicating the past few years to endless, difficult schoolwork, clubs, and volunteer work, what university are you planning on...

Gone are the days of door-to-door cookie sales in your neighborhood. Nowadays, business, sales, and marketing is a global affair. International trade and experience is crucial to a successful career in business, and there’s no better way to get that ex...

GoAbroad helps you learn how to find paid summer internshipsSo, you’re on the hunt of that elusive unicorn in the world of work experience: paid summer internships. People will say you’re crazy, they’ll say they don’t exist… but, guess what? Paid summe...

If you’ve been thinking learning another language, you’ve probably heard or read the words “Language Immersion Schools.” Sure, you could go abroad, take a few language classes, practice the subjunctive tense, and come home – but what if there was...

College graduation is looming in the distance (or in the rearview mirror) and you could, of course, settle down, apply for a responsible job in your hometown, and be perfectly happy. Or…you could apply for a Working Holiday Visa abroad, and work in ano...

With student loans, a competitive job market, and the prospect of even more all-nighters, the idea of graduate school can be a little intimidating. After all, U.S. graduate programs have a reputation for being costly and time-consuming affairs. But, we...

It’s your senior year of high school and you’re just one year away from your next adventure, whether that’s college, a gap year, or employment. You know that means? That means it’s the perfect time to take your senior trip ideas to the next level. Forg...

Going abroad is a big deal and you want to make the right decision when choosing your travel program. After all, this international experience could shape who you are personally, professionally, and spiritually for years to come! But no pressure, right...

Volunteering abroad is a serious commitment. Unlike other forms of traveling abroad, volunteering puts you directly in the lives of people from other countries, cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles. You are a guest in their home, and because of that, you ...

How to Write a Unique Study Abroad EssaySometimes, the process of studying abroad can feel almost as difficult as applying for college. You have to choose the country you want to study in, compare and contrast programs (hint: MyGoAbroad), collect your ...

Why Intensive Language Programs? So you’ve decided you don’t want to just walk the walk – you want to talk the talk. Today, more and more students are choosing to focus on language learning programs abroad as a way to truly immerse themselves and learn...

Making traveling for students a realityAlthough you may not always want to do your homework, getting the most out of your travel experience means doing your research. If you want the most affordable student airfare deals, hottest restaurant scenes, and...

Experience the World with Experiential TravelSo you’ve been thinking what you’d like to do with your summer or with your gap year before college, and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t imagine yourself lifeguarding at the local pool, or g...

Once you catch the travel bug, it can be hard to squash. Although honestly – who would want to? After getting a taste of the freedom, excitement, and personal growth that being abroad can give you, you’ll always be trying to find a way back to the othe...

Get a scholarship for studying abroad—fastDon’t let study abroad costs get you down. A common misconception study abroad is that it is unaffordable, but guess what? There are literally thousands of study abroad scholarships and grants out there, ...

GoAbroad helps you figure out how to study abroadSo you’ve decided you want it all—not just high school, college, and a swanky degree, but also global, life-changing experiences that will change who you are as a person and how you see the world. In oth...

If you’re looking to gain valuable work skills abroad in a city that is quite possibly the center of everything in Europe, then look no further: London is the place to be. Internships in London offer students and young professionals the incredible oppo...

In our crazy, fast-paced world, it’s hard to find time to do anything nowadays. For students and recent graduates looking to gain new experience and boost their resume, it can be difficult to make the time to just do your laundry, let alone snag intern...

The hottest accessory this year? A few dozen stamps on your passport. Trust us when we say: Study Abroad summer 2018 is the ONLY way to spend your precious time off school. Since we’ve got no time to waste, you should jump start planning your summer ad...

We’ve all seen the movie: a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed student packs up his/her bag, soars off in a plane into a clear blue sky, and arrives in a brand new country, alone but ready for the adventure of a lifetime. What comes next is one and half to t...

These days, more and more students are choosing to participate in gap year programs after high school. Gap year programs are an excellent way to see the world and gain real life experience before venturing into the great big world of higher education. ...

Where should I teach abroad in 2018?It’s never too soon to start planning your next (PAID!) adventure abroad, and we’re here to help! For those looking to make real connections with new people and cultures while earning a bit of cash, teaching English ...

Published 27 Oct 2016

Just off the tip of Italy’s boot-shaped peninsula, Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and the more rustic counterpart to its mother country of Italy. Colonized by Greeks, ruled by Romans, invaded by Arabs, jobs in Sicily expose ex...

Published 25 Oct 2016

Florence, the capital of the region of Tuscany, is one of the most widely celebrated and visited cities in the world. Although known for its vibrant history during the Italian Renaissance and its vast collection of art, today Florence continues to be ...

There’s #TravelInspo everywhere in the world; from Instagram hashtags to your favorite cousin’s recent trip to Iceland, you’re constantly surrounded by pictures, articles, stories, books, and movies that are showing you the best (and worst) of travelin...

Today, Spanish is one of the most important and widely-spoken languages in the world. With over 400 million people speaking it daily, gaining Spanish language skills will open doors to numerous opportunities, as well as give you the tools to make new f...

Calling all Anglophiles: today’s the day you decide to not only study in the UK, but also to choose a subject that will allow you to dive headfirst into British culture. Study abroad in England in high school is all immersing yourself in another ...

ESL teachers in Spain? Yeah, they’re an elite group of instructors. They work in one of the most competitive TEFL locations in the world, shaping young minds Monday through Friday, and spending their weekends at las playas. Teaching English in Spain is...

International internships are not just the work (well, don’t slack off, they’re mostly the work). Your international internship is also learning to work in a multicultural environment with people from all different backgrounds.
The ...

While you’ve been prepping for your high school study abroad program, you probably (re: should be) reading up on historical sites, researching the best coastlines and mountain peaks you want to visit, and picking out the perfect Instagram-worthy outfit...

Welcome back from your high school study abroad program! Whether you were abroad for a few weeks, months, or a year, you’ve just come back from a life-changing experience that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. After having such an incred...

Located in southern central Europe, Italy has been involved in the most significant global politics of the past century. Today, Italy continues to be an influential nation in international politics and trade, both within the European Union and through...

As the former capital of three kingdoms, Turin (or “Torino”) is a world-famous city filled with a history in Italian politics, beautiful artwork, and incredibly diverse architecture. However, Torino is far more than just a pretty neo-class...

Cambridge has been home to Romans, Vikings, King William of Normandy, and Pink Floyd. Most importantly, Cambridge has been home to one of the top five universities in the world: the centuries-old University of Cambridge. Today, Cambridge is still fill...

You want the Lizzie McGuire movie experience, but with a little less Italian pop and a little bit more flamenco flair. While we can’t guarantee that international singing sensations will fall in love with you during your high school study abroad advent...

Scoring an international internship could be the first step to getting a job abroad, but don’t let your weeks, months, or years of earned professional experience just be another bullet point on your resume. Take the time to really make an impression at...

Mr. Feeny might have made teaching look easy, but the reality is working as an ESL teacher abroad is an incredible, exhausting, and humbling experience that allows you to see the world while forging very real connections with children all over the worl...

If you want to study abroad senior year, you've got a few hoops to jump. Here's our best advice:One day you’re standing in the doorway of your first college dorm room, the next, you’re seeing how precariously you can pile trash in your trashcan and loo...

So you’ve been craving a little travel (and maybe a lot of pizza) and you’ve settled on the perfect solution: an educational, high school program abroad in Italy! What better way to explore what you’ve been learning in the classroom than to go to the c...

You’re to study abroad in France and you’re ready for everything, the daily croissants, the striped shirts and berets, your afternoons along the Seine, and the handsome Frenchman or woman who will sweep you off your teenage-feet and escort you do...

Before you started your study abroad summer, semester, or year, you probably heard a lot culture shock. You might have even experienced a little of it (along with a healthy dose of homesickness). But, what is too-often overlooked is the idea of r...

Why do we feel so great when we travel? Is it the prospect of finally snapping that perfect picture of the Eiffel Tower? Is it the endless amount of delicious, new food (probably not, but it certainly helps!)? Is it meeting new people from exciting new...

Let’s be honest: as much as we all love a good pan au chocolat with our coffee as we overlook the Seine, sometimes we want to explore Europe beyond the museums and sparkling capital cities. We want an experience served up a little differently than the ...

So you’ve decided to study abroad and you couldn’t be any more jazzed it. In fact, you’re already preparing for your new life across the ocean by practicing your Korean karaoke or sipping on cappuccinos, imagining life by the Seine.
However, the...

So you’re to embark on an internship abroad in Italy and you think you’re all set. After all, what more is there to Italy beside pizza? (Hint: it’s not ALL the pizza…although, yes, there is a lot of pizza). Interning abroad in Italy is an i...

Sizing up culture shock experiencesYour formative years are the time that you start figuring out who you are and what you want out of life, which makes it the perfect time to participate in travel abroad programs for young adults. Traveling or studying...

You’ve decided to go abroad on a teen travel program, congratulations! You’re to start a lifelong love affair with travel, and going abroad at a young age means that you’ll carry these experiences with you in all of your future adventures - wheth...

Spending a semester studying abroad in Jolly ol’ England will give you more than you bargained for. Speaking from experience, my semester studying in Bath impacted me beyond an affinity for breakfast beans and an appreciation for “mindi...

You’ve seen so many movies it, eaten enough pizza, sang along to so many opera songs that you almost feel like you know Italy. It didn’t earn its spot as one of the most popular places for students to study abroad and travel by accident afterall....

As the saying goes, “math is a universal language.” Those students looking to study mathematics abroad will have the distinct advantage of knowing a “language” that surpasses all cultural and political boundaries. Taking your m...

You can see the city of Bologna from miles away, not only because of its red and deep orange-hued buildings (for which it is famous), but also because of the infamous two towers piercing the city skyline at a precariously crooked angle. Noteworthy, fu...

You’ve chosen to study abroad in Italy, one of the most beautiful and pizza-laden countries in the world, but now comes the hard part: which city to study in? When researching study abroad programs in Italy, you’ll find that some locations are more pop...

The choice of where to study abroad can be an extremely difficult decision when there are so many incredible cities, countries, and continents to choose from. Two of the most popular destinations for study abroad include England and Italy. While the de...

A mosaic of history and modern industry, classical architecture and graffiti-lined streets, traditional Italian cuisine and a booming chocolate market: Torino is one of Italy’s most popular working cities and is an excellent place to intern abro...

Author Interview

Danielle DeSimone is a Third Culture Kid: she spent her formative years growing up in Italy and has been passionate living abroad ever since. Danielle attended the University of Mary Washington where she earned degrees in Creative Writing and Italian Studies. Currently, she lives in Washington DC where she works as the Social Media Manager and Assistant Editor at the National Italian Amer...